Authenticity meets Garbology.

Published October 31, 2008 @ 03:50PM PT

In Spokane, we met with performance artist and professed garbologist Gabriel Brown. Here, he talks about his act, which often entails picking through garbage and panhandling, all while dressed in a business suit. Here, he discusses his methodology and the reactions he's come to expect.

The pursuit and mythology of authenticity among the Millennial generation has creeped into nearly every conversation we've had on the road. Beyond "authenticity" being "the next big thing" that advertisers are tripping over each other to fabricate and co-opt (in an "authentic" way, no doubt), there has certainly been an expression (mainly by older "Millennials") regarding an attempt to peel back layers that they perceive stand between their perception and reality (in a modern sense).

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Good one, Alex...seeing Gabriel's work 'in uniform' is evocative of the irony that I've seen in our work daily at Shaping Youth...In fact, we've experimented with some teen 'research' on 'appearance-based cues' (for a stereotypes in media session) and had the same kids go into the same stores with the same staff on duty and watch how they 'watched' them based on their clothes and demeanor alone. Pretty interesting sociological work.

I'd love to hear/see more from Gabriel...meanwhile, are you still in the Bay area next week? Gonna take me up on couchsurfing opps? Let me know, as I may head out of town for a couple days and don't want to miss ya! --Amy

Posted by Amy Jussel, Shaping Youth on 11/01/2008 @ 08:06PM PT
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Alex is a freelance journalist, activist, and online community management consultant based in Boston and Portland, Maine. He currently serves as executive editor of MakeSomethingHappen.net, where he writes about online organizing and the power of collective action.